Ch.44Chapter 44. The Four Heavenly Kings Assemble

The place where the Demon Lord’s army was stationed was once a kingdom that had prospered as much as the Empire.

However, despite its brilliant history and traditions, its remnants were now being thoroughly trampled by the Demon Tribe.

They had no intention of preserving these remnants.

For groups lacking moral and ethical consciousness, if they needed something, they believed it was easier to plunder from others rather than create it themselves.

“Is that woman really one of the Four Heavenly Kings?”

The moment one of the highest-ranking officers in this aggressive group crossed through the ruined castle, the attention of the surrounding Demon Tribe members, who had been snickering until then, immediately focused on her.

“She does look like a clown, fitting her title ‘Mad Jester’… but she seems weak.”

Blue skin, pointed ears. Brilliant amber eyes.

And attire—a tuxedo and silk hat—completely unsuited for the Demon Tribe members who made fighting their profession.

Since her strength wasn’t outwardly apparent, it was natural for demons who didn’t know about her to underestimate her.

“Come to think of it, they say she hardly ever goes to the battlefield. Maybe she’s just lived a long time but is actually weak?”

“Should I challenge her to a fight? If I take her down, I’d become second-in-command of the Demon Lord’s army…”

“Newcomers, if you value your lives, you’d better just watch quietly.”

However, this ruined castle was also home to many high-ranking demons who had gained experience across several dimensions.

What they revealed when they saw the jester was fear itself.

“Don’t underestimate her, you say? Why would you say that?”

“Because the reason this palace was destroyed overnight when we entered this world was because of that clown. Do you think you could even win if all the demons around you attacked at once, and still kill all of them?”

“That’s impossible. Maybe if it was just one or two…”

“Making you abandon such thoughts and rush to your death is the vicious aspect of that clown.”

A horrifying catastrophe that doesn’t suppress individuals with power, but instead infects groups with madness, causing them to kill each other.

Anyone who knew of this horror wouldn’t question why she was second-in-command of the Demon Lord’s army.

At least, unless they were another of the Four Heavenly Kings, no one here would dare block her path.

“My, my, who do we have here~ Isn’t it our cute and lovely Mephi~?”

It was at tat moment her steps across the ruined castle halted, at the nickname uttered by another figure.

She turned her gaze sideways to see another demon gently floating down from the air.

“It’s been a while, Mephi~♡ You’ve returned earlier than planned… Could it be you came back early because you missed me~?”

A female-bodied demon who, in contrast to herself, exposed much of her skin.

Her seductive allure symbolized the desires she embodied.

“…Yasmo.”

Reaper Succubus—Yasmo Deus.

Fifth in the Demon Lord’s army hierarchy, one of the Four Heavenly Kings, and true to her title, a monster of lust who drains the life force of her sexual partners until death.

But even she seemed to have grown tired of her usual habits; since entering this world, she had focused solely on relationships with the same sex rather than the opposite.

She didn’t hesitate to cross lines for this purpose, it earned her the hatred of many in this world, just like that Beastman.

“Oh my~ Why so serious between us? I have the nickname Yasdes, so call me that too, Mephi~♥”

A nickname, really? Did she truly consider Yasdes a good nickname?

Come to think of it, she had always had a poor sense for naming things. But as she tried to brush it off…

“…What are you doing?”

“Fufu, your breasts seem to have grown bigger since I last saw you?”

Yasmo approached from behind and began touching her chest.

Though smaller compared to Yasmo’s, for someone who was merely a jester, physical charm was nothing more than decoration.

Once she had thought it might be used to please her lord, but eventually deemed it meaningless and put it out of mind.

“Mmm~ They’ve ripened nicely! At this rate, I could devour you right here and—”

“Yasmo.”

But indifference doesn’t translate to permitting others’ desires.

With a snap of her fingers, her body vanished, causing Yasmo’s groping hands to pass through empty air.

“…I’m not in the mood for jokes right now.”

A simple illusion.

This too was once a skill she had honed to entertain her lord.

“Aha~ You think I’ll be intimidated if you get all serious~”

Smirking, Yasmo Deus turned her gaze behind her.

Approaching Mephisto, who was staring at her stoically, Yasmo placed a finger under Mephisto’s chin and fiercely gathered mana.

“Ah~ Our Mephisto Rage. The Demon Lord’s pitiful jester~♬ Always wandering the world for the sake of a lord who never smiles, but unable to produce results, your heart has become tattered like a rag~♪”

Enchanting fragrance.

Her power, blooming in response to her desires, intensified the sexual desire of her targets, leading them to strongly court her.

The fact that this power felt more irritating than before was likely because since coming to this world, Yasmo had awakened to her homosexual desires.

“But Mephi… No matter how nasty your temperament has become, you should choose your opponents carefully.”

Inducing madness through music is only effective when targeting groups.

Against individuals, it only creates a strong obsession toward the target, so she couldn’t exert overwhelming power against individuals in terms of compatibility.

“Just because you’ve stayed in the Demon Lord’s army for a long time and claimed the second position, you don’t really think you’re the second strongest in the army after the Demon Lord, do you?”

That was a fact Mephisto herself knew well.

She was the weakest among the Four Heavenly Kings.

Unless it was a battle accompanied by an army, in a direct confrontation with a strong opponent, she would always be the one to bow her head.

“…Those words just now.”

But what did such power differences matter when she had already prepared herself for death upon returning here?

It would only mean that the place of her death would be before this person rather than before the Demon Lord.

Even if she couldn’t win, she could still inflict equivalent damage or something close to it, even in her current state.

“Are you sure you won’t regret this?”

As her will responded and the maddening magical power began to spread thickly,

Yasmo, confronted with it, momentarily felt a chill and began to back away.

“Fufu~ Just kidding~♡ As if I’d fight with Mephi?”

Unless she could immediately turn the powerful being before her into a sex slave, engaging in a battle of slaughter would bring more harm than good.

As a demon faithful to desire, it was natural to retreat if it would harm the fulfillment of that desire.

“I just got curious and came to see you first. You usually don’t return to the Demon Lord’s army until a world is destroyed, but you came back early even though that time hasn’t come yet.”

“…I’ll explain my reasons before the Demon Lord.”

Yes, if desire cannot be fulfilled, demons as a species prefer to keep their distance.

Therefore, Mephisto sensed at this moment that after achieving her purpose, she would never see the person before her again.

Whether she died here or miraculously survived.

After today, she would no longer be part of the Demon Lord’s army.

“Mephisto, and Yasmo Deus.”

Standing prominently in the path she was taking was another demon.

With a hideous insect-like head, he was, in some sense, an even more central figure to the Demon Lord’s army than the two of them.

“The Demon Lord has summoned all Four Heavenly Kings upon hearing of Mephisto’s return.”

The Arrogant King of Flies—Belzebub.

Despite having an insect’s head, he was a demon who preferred a polite demeanor and neat attire like a suit.

Like his appearance suggested, he revered absolute values and trust, essentially serving as the strategist in charge of commanding the army and the treasurer managing its treasures.

“Please follow obediently this time without skipping out… Except for when crossing dimensions, it’s quite exceptional for the Demon Lord to summon all four of us at once.”

“Aha~ That is rare. The Demon Lord personally summoning us… Could it be that the Demon Lord is happy about Mephi’s return?”

Yasmo giggled at Belzebub’s words, giving Mephisto a meaningful look.

In response, Mephisto quietly adjusted her silk hat and followed behind Belzebub.

“I would like that.”

Though she thought such a thing would never happen again, if by chance…

She harbored this modest wish in her heart as she followed.

“The Demon Lord is inside. Everyone, mind your manners.”

The place they arrived at was the audience chamber of the ruined castle.

The place where courtiers once gathered to serve the king was now showing signs of neglect, with crumbling and worn-out features visible everywhere.

But despite such a state, it was now filled with demons who had gathered out of interest upon hearing of the Four Heavenly Kings’ summons.

Among them, the one who showed interest in Mephisto, who had just entered, was another demon who held the same position as one of the Four Heavenly Kings.

“Oh, who do we have here. It’s the damn clown woman who’s second-in-command of the Demon Lord’s army!”

A smooth body without a single hair, wearing a jacket.

But none present would underestimate him.

Despite having no special decorations or distinctive appearance, the aura that spread around him just by standing there was enough to make his strength visibly apparent.

“Hahaha! What an honor to have such a distinguished guest in this humble place! It’s been about 10 years since I last saw you—it’s so hard to see your face, isn’t it!?”

Plunderer Grizzvill—third in the Demon Lord’s army hierarchy.

As a demon most faithful to primal desires among those in the Demon Lord’s army, he was only satisfied by obtaining whatever he wanted.

True to his name as the Plunderer, he had a nature that required him to obtain everything he desired.

The craving for power, possessiveness toward others, the desire for honor, and to be intoxicated by his own status…

And even the desire to dominate, standing at the top and looking down on others.

“…It’s been a while, Grizzvill. Have you been well?”

“Haha~ Why are you suddenly being so polite? Normally you’d start mocking me and getting on my nerves as soon as we meet.”

To him, all the Four Heavenly Kings except the Demon Lord were thorns in his side, and he particularly felt hatred toward Mephisto.

Though the Four Heavenly Kings were considered equals, their ranks were determined by who joined the Demon Lord’s army first.

Yet the youngster before him had entered the Demon Lord’s army before him and had survived to proudly claim the second position.

Moreover, her survival wasn’t due to leading the Demon Lord’s army to victory at the forefront like himself, but from spending time on trivial matters like traveling, making it natural for him not to acknowledge her.

“Since we’re meeting face to face like this, let’s go out and have a chat, maybe over a drink, hmm?”

So if given the chance, he would prove the difference in power and kill her.

As he revealed such murderous intent while urging her to go out together, Belzebub stepped in front of him and quietly said:

“Grizzvill. I understand your feelings, but we’ve been summoned directly by the Demon Lord. If you have business, let’s handle it after the Demon Lord has finished speaking.”

“Ha, you treasure-hoarding bug! You sure listen well to the Demon Lord at times like this.”

“Of course. Under the Demon Lord, I can comfortably collect all sorts of treasures. So I’d prefer not to displease the Demon Lord unnecessarily…”

Greed, the desire to collect, and so on.

Parasites who serve the Demon Lord for the sake of satisfying their desires, pursuing rewards and power.

Such reasons would apply to the other demons watching the situation around them as well.

Yes, perhaps no one but herself had pledged pure loyalty to the Demon Lord.

“You two, stop bickering and look ahead, will you?”

At Yasmo’s words interrupting their rumination, Grizzvill and Belzebub’s gazes soon turned forward.

Amidst the demons who had gathered with interest around them, a presence gradually began to reveal itself on the throne erected above.

“He-he’s here! It’s the Demon Lord!”

“This is my first time seeing him in person.”

Due to his reclusive nature, he mostly just gave orders without directly showing himself to the army.

And this applied to the Four Heavenly Kings as well.

“…Is everyone here?”

But regardless of their inner thoughts, they too had pledged loyalty to him for their own desires.

With his immense power, he would surely be able to fulfill all their wishes.

The Four Heavenly Kings, carrying these hopes, began to bow their heads before him, representing the surrounding demons.

“We greet you, Demon Lord.”

Demon Lord Solomon.

King of demons who live for desire, destroyer who has led invasions across many worlds through dimensions, one of the greatest calamities threatening humanity in this world.

‘And the one who will mark my beginning and end.’

Confronting him, Mephisto began to tighten her grip on the resignation letter hidden in her possession.